Several of the best and brightest students in the College of Engineering, Computing and Applied Sciences were honored at an ceremony April 14 in the Madren Conference Center ballroom.
Tom Owino, an associate professor of environmental engineering and earth sciences, presided over the annual gala.
“All of tonight’s honorees are outstanding academicians,” he said. “Many are accomplished researchers, and most have committed themselves to special service projects.”
Student awardees at the 2017 Honors and Awards Ceremony were: Sarah Donaher, Aaron Gordon, Chloe Johnson, Benjamin Shumpert, Jake Flynn, Crystal Pee, Myrtede Alfred, Joey Wilson, Adam Klett, Matthew Seigler, Amanda Farthing, Matthew Chicky, and Taylor Lightner. All those pictured won college-level awards, except Chicky, who received a departmental-level award, the Eastman Chemical Award for Excellence.
Students dined with family, friends and faculty mentors before receiving their awards and posing for photos. Also in attendance were Randy Collins, the associate vice president for Clemson’s Charleston programs; Doug Hirt, associate dean for research and graduate studies; and Brad Putman, interim associate dean for undergraduate studies.
Anand Gramopadhye, the college’s dean, urged the honorees to continue to be seekers of truth and knowledge and to use knowledge to make the world a better place.
“Be appreciative of all who help and guide you,” he said. “In the end, the mark of an educated man or woman is measured by their contributions that benefit society. I look forward to living in the world you create. Exceed our expectations!”
A list of the awards and their winners are below, followed by a list of members of the Honors and Awards Committee.
COLLEGE AWARDS
ROBERT W. MOORMAN AWARD
Dr. Robert W. Moorman was the son of Commandant Thomas Moorman, a graduate in Civil Engineering and Head of the Engineering Mechanics Department from 1958 to 1974. The Robert W. Moorman Award is given in his honor to the most outstanding junior in engineering on the basis of scholarship and character. The recipient receives a handbook, a certificate, and a cash award.
Benjamin Shumpert
Aiken, South Carolina
Computer Engineering
BLUE KEY ACADEMIC AND LEADERSHIP AWARD
As a result of funds generated from Tigerama, an endowment has been established to give an award to one student in each of the seven colleges at the university who has distinguished himself or herself in academic scholarship and campus leadership. The recipient receives a certificate and a cash award.
Chloe Johnson
Florence, South Carolina
Materials Science and Engineering
WESLEY DAVIS LEADERSHIP AWARD
The J. Wesley Davis Leadership Award is given in memory of Dr. J. Wesley Davis, a graduate of Clemson University in electrical engineering and a former president of the Clemson University Engineering Foundation. This award is given to a senior engineering student for outstanding scholarship, leadership in a student engineering organization, and high potential for success in the engineering profession. The recipient receives a medallion and a cash award.
Joey Wilson
Duncan, South Carolina
Bioengineering
PHI KAPPA PHI CERTIFICATE OF MERIT
The honoree must be a graduating senior with a GPA of 3.4 or above and have made noteworthy contributions in areas such as leadership, service, and creative endeavors to his or her department, college, and Clemson University. The recipient receives a framed certificate.
Sarah Donaher
Charlotte, North Carolina
Environmental Engineering and Earth Sciences
SAMUEL B. EARLE AWARD
Dr. Samuel B. Earle was director of the Engineering Department from 1911 to 1933 and dean of the School of Engineering from 1933 to 1950. The Samuel B. Earle Award is given in his honor to the most outstanding senior in engineering on the basis of scholarship and character. The recipient receives a medal and a cash award.
Aaron Gordon
Bethesda, Maryland
Civil Engineering
OUTSTANDING SENIOR IN THE SCHOOL OF COMPUTING
OR APPLIED SCIENCES
This award is given to the outstanding senior in the School of Computing or Applied Sciences and is on the basis of scholarship, character, and other factors demonstrating the recipients’ integrity in the field of Computing and Applied Sciences. The recipient receives a certificate and a cash award.
Matthew Seigler
Walhalla, South Carolina
Geology
OUTSTANDING UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCHER AWARD
The Outstanding Undergraduate Researcher Award is given to one undergraduate researcher who has been recognized by faculty for having shown outstanding research potential in their field of study. The recipient will receive a certificate and a cash award.
Amanda Farthing
Indiatlantic, Florida
Industrial Engineering
OUTSTANDING GRADUATE RESEARCHER AWARD
The Outstanding Graduate Researcher Award is given to one graduate researcher who has been recognized by faculty for having conducted outstanding research during the school year. The recipient will receive a certificate and a cash award.
Adam Klett
Melbourne, Florida
Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering
OUTSTANDING GRADUATE TEACHING ASSISTANT AWARD
The Outstanding Graduate Teaching Assistant Award is given to graduate assistants who have been recognized by the faculty, students, and fellow graduate teaching assistants as exemplary in undergraduate teaching. The recipient will receive a certificate and a cash award.
Myrtede Alfred
Miami, Florida
Industrial Engineering
TAU BETA PI SCHOLARSHIP FOR SOUTH CAROLINA ALPHA
This award is made under the Tau Beta Pi Chapter Performance Scholarship Program, which is intended to promote and support undergraduate education in engineering. The South Carolina Alpha Chapter is one of only 17 nationally to receive this award in the past year. The recipient will receive a certificate and a cash award.
Hannah McNulty
Wexford, Pennsylvania
Environmental Engineering and Earth Sciences
Robert W. Snelsire Diversity Prize
The Robert W. Snelsire Diversity Prize honors the memory of Dr. Bob Snelsire, a professor of electrical engineering who was also a champion of underrepresented students in the college. This award recognizes a student who has been of service to PEER, Programs for Educational Enrichment and Retention or WISE, the Women in Science and Engineering Program. The recipient will receive a certificate and a cash award.
Taylor Lightner
Irmo, South Carolina
Industrial Engineering
Jacquelwyn Willis Anthony Award
This award, established by alumna Janine Anthony Bowen, honors her mother as a source of inspiration and encouragement during her college career. This award is presented to a student for distinguished service to PEER, which is the support network for minority students in the College of Engineering, Computing and Applied Sciences. The recipient will receive a certificate and a cash reward.
Crystal Pee
Conway, South Carolina
Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering
The Robert B. (’70) and Susan B. Hambright Annual Leadership Program in Engineering
The Robert B. (’70) and Susan B. Hambright Annual Leadership Program in Engineering is being established by Mr. Robert Benjamin Hambright, Class of 1970, and Mrs. Susan Bindseil Hambright. The mission of this merit-based leadership program is to create awareness of the power and impact that can be achieved through leadership. It is the donors’ desire that students who benefit from this program demonstrate leadership qualities in the areas of learning agility, humility, strong character, and demonstrated leadership characteristics in academic areas, student organizations, and community activities. The annual program awards $4,000 to eligible junior and senior engineering students to attend leadership conferences and programs (at Clemson and at other institutions) that encourage accelerated leadership development and awareness for the candidate(s), of which $3,000 will be used to fund leadership related activities and $1,000 will serve as a merit award.
Jake Flynn
Mooresville, North Carolina
Industrial Engineering
DEPARTMENT AWARDS
AUTOMOTIVE ENGINEERING
Ph.D. Student of the Year
Zoleikha Abdollaahi Biron
Tehran, Iran
BIOENGINEERING
JONATHAN BLACK UNDERGRADUATE LEADERSHIP IN BIOENGINEERING AWARD
The award was established in 2011 in honor of Dr. Jonathan Black, Hunter Professor Emeritus of Bioengineering at Clemson University. This award will be given annually to an outstanding undergraduate student in Bioengineering for leadership and service to the department, in addition to scholastic excellence.
Anna Lu Carter
Anderson, South Carolina
CHEMICAL and BIOMOLECULAR ENGINEERING
WESTERN SOUTH CAROLINA SECTION AIChE SCHOLASTIC ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
This award is presented by the regional section of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers to the graduating senior in the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering with the highest scholastic average.
Brandon E. Alverson
Cincinnati, Ohio
CIVIL ENGINEERING
JOHN M. FORD MEMORIAL AWARD
The John M. Ford Memorial Award is given to the Civil Engineering student who has shown an interest in the professional practice of civil engineering and has attained an outstanding academic record. The award memorializes the achievements of John M. Ford who taught for many years in the Civil Engineering Department.
Ashley Caroline Martin
Lugoff, South Carolina
SCHOOL OF COMPUTING
OUTSTANDING STUDENT IN COMPUTING ANNUAL AWARD
Joshua Dunster
Simpsonville, South Carolina
ELECTRICAL and COMPUTER ENGINEERING M. RIGGS AWARD
ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING
This award is given to the most outstanding senior in electrical engineering. Recipients are chosen based on their outstanding academic achievement, character, and leadership.
David Shawn Canady
Macon, Georgia
ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING and EARTH SCIENCES
THOMAS M. KEINATH ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING AWARD
This award is presented to a student majoring in environmental engineering with outstanding achievements in the discipline and possessing personal attributes necessary for success as an environmental engineer. The award is given in honor of Dr. Thomas M. Keinath, who served as a faculty member, department chair, and dean of the College of Engineering and Science during his 37-year career at Clemson University. Each award is $500.
Emily Murawski
Kingston, New Hampshire
THOMAS F. LOGAN, JR. GEOLOGY MERIT AWARD
This award is presented to a senior majoring in geology with outstanding achievements in the discipline and possessing personal attributes necessary for success as a geologist. The award is given by the geology faculty in memory of Thomas F. Logan, Jr., a 1965 geology graduate of Clemson University.
Matt Seigler
Walhalla, South Carolina
GEORGE B. NUTT (SENIOR) AWARD
Biosystems
Presented to a senior student majoring in biosystems engineering with outstanding achievements and possessing personal attributes necessary for successful accomplishments in this discipline. The award is given in honor of Dr. George B. Nutt, the first chair of the Department of Agricultural Engineering at Clemson, who served from 1932 to 1955.
Elizabeth Zanin
Charleston, South Carolina
INDUSTRIAL ENGINEERING
JIM CHISMAN OUTSTANDING SENIOR AWARD
Recipients of this award are selected for their “all-around” excellence. The award winners are selected by a faculty committee.
Megan Byham
Southlake, Texas
MATERIALS SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING
THE GILBERT ROBINSON RESEARCH AWARD
Sarah M. Lowum
Elmira, New York
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING
EASTMAN CHEMICAL AWARDS FOR EXCELLENCE
The purpose of the Eastman Chemical fund is to provide awards to outstanding students, faculty, and staff of the Department of Mechanical Engineering. A $1,000 award is provided.
Matthew Chicky
Greenville, South Carolina
2016–17 HONORS and AWARDS COMMITTEE
Automotive Engineering
Robert Prucka
Bioengineering
Dan Simionescu
Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering
David Bruce
Civil Engineering
Ronnie Chowdhury
School of Computing
Wayne Goddard
Electrical and Computer Engineering
Carl Baum
Engineering and Science Education
Cindy Lee
Environmental Engineering and Earth Sciences
Biosystems
Tom Owino, Committee Chair
Industrial Engineering
David Neyens
Materials Science and Engineering
Gary Lickfield
Mechanical Engineering
Huijuan Zhao
Dean’s Office
Tracy Dodson
Ron Grant
